how do you stop puppy spitting out dummy?

[Wendy M]

Just had a thought...have you been saying "sit" as the dog comes into you with the dummy? If so the dog is expecting the cheese as a reward for sitting not for giving you the dummy. Don't ask the dog to sit for the time-being upon returning to you with a retrieve and reward for giving you the dummy instead.

Wendy

[crowdoon]

thanks folks for all the replys, some good ideas to try im sure i will be back on to get some more advice or to let you all know how im getting on. thanks again.

[lagopus]

As soon as he realises that he only gets the treat when you get the dummy in your hand you'll be well away. I find mine usually do it in a matter of goes - as long as you never treat for a dropped dummy (or anything else)

[Naj]

Hi all.

I have a 3 month old springer spaniel puppy i am training for shooting , i heard that a good treat for training was cheese! i tried this and he now sits on command for a piece of cheese!.i thought this was great so i tried a few retrieves and rewarded him each time , this all sounds great but now he has taken to spitting out the dummy at my feet and sits waiting for his cheese. can anyone give me some advice on how to stop this.
many thanks ian.

If he is doing any behaviour just 'for a piece of cheese' -ie. on the proviso that he gets a piece of cheese, or any other reward, then you are either luring him or bribing him with the sight of cheese. If luring, then you are doing it incorrectly. If bribing, then it will never work, as it sound like you are finding out. You should research 'luring' and/or reward based (clicker) training to find out how to do it correctly.

Naj

[Andrew]

Play tuggy

[spannerman]

I am big believer of cheese reward, But I never food reward for retrieve, just loads of high pitched praise, then sit with back against a wall so dog can't pass you, and let dog come into you, no pressure just chill and let dog be happy praising it, As for tuggy?? HARD MOUTH!!!

[coco]

After seeing the spitting problem persist in some older dogs at training I decided to teach the 'hold' command to my 6-7 month lab pup. I followed the link on here ( but without the clicker) and spent 2 weeks doing 2 minute sessions 3 times a day with a tiny meat treat or cheese. Dog was in the sit position for each session and I started off with a plastic dummy toy ( just in case it didn't work as I didn't want to create a negative association with the dummy) and after 1 week changed to a puppy dummy.
Timing is absolutely crucial, and reward for a split second hold at first. - It worked for us.

[ballymary]

Everyone has different ideas and opinions on using treats in training, especially with retrieves. If not done correctly it could encourage spitting. However, as my dog was already dropping the dummy I had nothing to lose by trying.
I used one very simple inflexible rule. If the dummy finished in my hand, dog got treat. If the dummy finished anywhere else, no treat. She cottoned on very quickly indeed, and I get a reliable delivery to hand every time now. Now that she knows what is required she gets a treat for a proper delivery just occasionally (maybe 1 in every 8 or so)
If it works do it. If it doesn't work, don't do it.

[Polmaise]

pretty much like the first reply.

[Andrew]

As for tuggy?? HARD MOUTH!!!

Are you saying that 2 pups pulling something makes them hard mouthed, I certainly don't believe it does, but then again who really knows for sure.
I do know that a bitch will play tuggy with a pup and in the several litters I've bred it hasn't made them hard mouthed.
I believe If a dog is spitting then tease it with something get it used to wanting to hold, let the dog get used to winning and holding the trophy, once you've taught that then you can teach the release.
Its same principle with treats people say don't use them you will encourage the dog to spit. I believe its not what you do but the way you do it.